...
By Marni Rose McFall
Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Nearly eight weeks since his return to office, Donald Trump is reportedly planning to pave over the Rose Garden, as he looks to transform elements of the White House.
Newsweek reached out to the White House outside of regular working hours via phone and email for comment.
Why It Matters
The president has already transformed the previously minimalist Oval Office since his second term began. He has made some of the most significant changes to the room's appearance in modern presidential history, having added gold medallions, gold vermeil figurines, gold eagles and gilded Rococo mirrors.
Read More on News
...
The Rose Garden was established in 1913 by Ellen Wilson, the wife of former President Woodrow Wilson. It was later redesigned by President John F. Kennedy so that it could be used as a space for outdoor ceremonies. It has since become a regular setting for various events, from receptions to press briefings and other occasions.
What to Know
The president has been discussing plans to rip up the grass on the rose garden and put it on a hard surface that would serve as a patio, according to reports from CNN and The New York Times.
Options have been drafted for how to remake the surface of the Rose Garden, and there have been discussions over whether it should be limestone, an easily interchangeable hard surface, or whether it could be possible to install hardwood floors for dancing, according to The New York Times, which cited individuals briefed on the discussions, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
It was also reported that Trump has revisited conversations about building a ballroom, similar to the one he has at Mar-a-Lago.
The Rose Garden was redesigned by First Lady Melania Trump during Trump's first term. The renovations drew backlash at the time and led to a petition asking for the changes to be reversed.
The Rose Garden renovations are reportedly a daily topic of conversation. The New York Times reported that Trump has made clear that he wishes to recreate the patio experience at Mar-a-Lago, and to have a better space for entertaining guests. The changes that have been made to the Oval Office echo the interiors of Trump Tower in New York, and the president's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
What People Are Saying
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung in a statement shared by The New York Times: "The White House has not been given any tender, loving care in many decades, so President Trump is taking necessary steps in order to preserve and restore the greatness and glory of 'the People's House.'"
What's Next
The White House has gone through many renovations over the years. How a paved-over Rose Garden would look and how the new space would be used remain to be seen.
Do you have a story Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines